FLOTUS Like a Butterfly

While yesterday was all about a bunch of dead white guys, today is a celebration of the First Ladies of the United States. And what wondrous ladies, indeed. The new Showtime anthology series “The First Lady” boasts an eye-poppingly impressive cast playing First Ladies Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Michelle Obama. Playing them, respectively, will be Gillian Anderson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Viola Davis.

Like if that cast alone doesn’t make you want to watch this thing, I don’t know if we can be friends. But it appears the series will not shy away from Eleanor Roosevelt’s personal life and long-rumored same-sex attractions, in particular the open secret of her long-term relationship with lesbian journalist Lorena Hickok. History continues to portray them as “gal pals,” just a couple of BFFs who had shared some 3,500 intimate letters professing love and longing spanning 30 years. (I mean, there’s even a whole book of them, people.)

Hickok, affectionately called “Hick” by Eleanor, rose to be the top female journalist in America in the early 1930s while working for the Associated Press. They met during FDRs first presidential campaign, and after his fourth presidential inauguration she moved into the White House, with an adjoining room to Eleanor’s. As gal pals do, you know. Women supporting women by making sure they can slip into each other’s bedrooms at night. Isn’t platonic female friendship the best?

While you can’t tell too much from the trailer, Hickok’s presence appears to loom large and hopefully will play prominently in Eleanor’s story. Like that scene where Eleanor giving Hick a little spin has to be her showing off their adjoining White House rooms for the first time, right? Basically, I’m very, very excited to witness Gillian Anderson and Lily Rabe smooching. There has got to be smooching, right?

If this series lives up to even half the potential of the combined talent of these actresses then *low whistle* are we in for a treat. Regardless, it’s great to see Eleanor’s true self hopefully shine. Gal pals forever, clearly.